Barsoom! John Carter arrives March 9

Taylor Kitsch as John Carter

My first memory of the John Carter series was crystalized forever by the amazing  book covers by Frank Frazetta.

Now the sword-wielding adventurer hits big screens March 9 in a new Disney film directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, WALL-E).

John Carter brings this captivating hero to the big screen in an adventure epic set on the wounded planet of Mars, a world inhabited by warrior tribes and exotic desert beings.

Lynn Collins as Dejah Thoris

Frazetta's vision

Based on the first of Edgar Rice Burroughs' "Barsoom Series," the film chronicles the journey of Civil-War veteran John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who finds himself battling a new and mysterious war amidst a host of strange Martian inhabitants, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins).

John Carter also stars Mark Strong, Bryan Cranston, James Purefoy, Samantha Morton, and Thomas Haden Church. -- Janet Hetherington

Call for Entries! Ottawa International Animation Festival

The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) is pleased to announce its worldwide call for entries for its 2012 festival, taking place September 19 to 23 in Canada’s National Capital Region -- Ottawa!


Animators are invited to submit their recent work into five major categories including: Independent short films, feature films, commissioned films (TV series, commercials, music videos and video game animation) student films and films made for children. 

The OIAF is recognized as one of the world’s most competitive film festivals, receiving more than 2,000 entries annually. The Festival’s selection committee chooses approximately 150 films for competition and out-of-competition showcase screenings.

The Festival’s international jury: Barry Purves (England), Hisko Hulsing (Holland), Izabela Rieben (Switzerland), Mike Fallows (Canada), J.J. Sedelmaier (USA) and Sarah Muller (England) will review films in competition. Jury members will join the audience during screenings throughout the Festival and present the final awards at the closing ceremonies.

The OIAF is also introducing a new category for Non-Gameplay Animation, the first of its kind at any animation festival. Examples of non-gameplay animation include cinematic cut scenes that help advance a game's plot and trailers previewing an upcoming release.

"Since the mid-1990s, we've been trying to find a way to seamlessly integrate videogame animation into OIAF competitions, ” says Festival artistic director Chris Robinson. “We found that the best way for us to acknowledge the outstanding work being done in gameplay animation was by encouraging the submission of non-game play components.”

A new award for Best Canadian Student Animation Film, celebrating the work of emerging filmmakers and the wealth of up-and-coming Canadian talent, will also be introduced. Canadian student films in competition and showcase will be eligible for this award.

All online entry forms for this year’s competition must be received by May 18. The deadline for preview DVDs is June 1. There is no entry fee.

For more information about this year’s Festival, as well as the online entry form, visit the OIAF website at www.animationfestival.ca.  Questions about submitting a film may be sent to entries@animationfestival.ca or made by telephone at 613-232-8769.

The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) is one of the world’s leading animation events providing screenings, exhibits, workshops and entertainment since 1976.  OIAF is an annual five-day event bringing art and industry together in a vibrant hub and attracting more than 28,000 artists, producers, students and animation fans from around the world.

For more information, visit the OIAF website at: www.animationfestival.ca.

Happy New Year from Janet Hetherington & Ronn Sutton

Happy New Year!

It was a busy year in 2011. Janet Hetherington was working on new screenplays, taking screenwriting courses with Screenwriters Online, and seeing the her short script the House on Arch Lane come to life from Germany's StoneHope Entertainment.

Speaking of the House on Arch Lane, please take the time to vote in support of this film with your "like" so it can make the cut for the Fear Fête Horror Film Festival in Baton Rouge, Lousiana in October 2012.

But Janet hasn't forgotten her comic book creative roots. Artist Ronn Sutton is busy drawing the new Honey West / Kolchak The Night Stalker crossover event book for Moonstone Publications. The script is by Janet, who had a blast writing this story featuring two iconic TV characters.

Set in the 1970s, Honey is a seasoned private investigator while Kolchak is still earning his reporter chops, and the two are forced to team up to solve the mystery of a missing girl. When they discover a cult is involved, Kolchak’s radar picks up hints of the supernatural – but Kolchak is not quite willing to believe it. Ronn is pencilling and inking the book, which is due out in 2012.

Meanwhile, Ronn’s issue of Honey West #5 (the wrap-up to the "Murder on Mars" three-issue storyline by Elaine Lee) has been resolicited and will be coming out in early 2012. Get your comic shop to order one!

Also look for a new art from Ronn in the 1000 Ways to Die graphic novel trade paperback from Zenescope (based on the popular Spike TV television show).

Ronn illustrated a short story for the anthology (due out in 2012). Talk to your comic shop to order or check here for the Amazon listing

Happy Holidays from Ronn Sutton and Janet Hetherington

Wishing you a happy and creative holiday!

Season's Greetings from Ronn Sutton and Janet Hetherington

The top art is Honey West by Ronn Sutton.

The middle art is Elvira by Ronn Sutton.

The bottom art is Destine from Eternal Romance by Janet Hetherington.

Click, Vote, Support the Canadian Toy Testing Council Aviva Fund application

Can you please help an important cause with the click of a mouse?

 

The Canadian Toy Testing Council is in critical need for funding. It is participating in the Aviva Fund challenge and needs to get as many votes (mouse clicks) as possible from now till Nov. 30 (inclusive) to make the semi-finals and qualify for funding.

 

Here's the link: http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf13268

 

Please vote today, tomorrow and Wednesday. You can register separately to vote or through Facebook.

 

Thanks,

Janet

 

The Canadian Toy Testing Council needs your help!

 

"Play is so important to optimal child development that it has been recognized by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child."  -- Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Convention on the Rights of the Child. General Assembly Resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989.

 

Every year dedicated volunteers at the Canadian Toy Testing Council test hundreds of toys and books to help you, the Canadian public, choose toys to promote healthy development.  We give the experts - our kids - the opportunity to tell you what toys have lasting play and what does not.  Our award winning toys point Canadians directly to a short list of toys that have been winners with our kid testers, who have played with these toys in their own homes, for several weeks.  There's something for everybody in our Children's Choice and Best Bet toys!  www.toy-testing.org

 

The CTTC also provides invaluable feedback to manufacturers.  We tell the manufacturers what kids and parents want and don't want.  At the CTTC we believe we can affect POSITIVE CHANGE in the marketplace.

 

Due to funding constraints, the CTTC is dangerously close to closing its doors, just one year shy of its 60 year anniversary!  We are appealing to the Aviva Community Fund to give the CTTC a boost to get us through the next year and give us precious time to secure a long-term funding partner to continue with the important work we do.

 

Now we need your help!  In order to be considered for this fund, we need your VOTES!  Only the top 30 ideas will move on to the semi-finals!

Here's what we need you to do:

 

1)  Register on the Aviva Community Fund web site
Go to:  http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/search/list
Click on "Register" on the right hand side of the page, you can either register through Facebook or provide your email and a password.  You will get an email almost immediately with a link.
Click on the link in your email and sign in.

 

2)   VOTE, VOTE, VOTE for the CTTC:
Do a search for CTTC (on the right of the page)
And click "VOTE NOW".

 

You get one vote per day per idea and voting closes on Wednesday, November 30.  So, make your vote count - vote EACH DAY!
To make it to the top 30 ideas in this round, we need to appeal to as many people as possible, so please reach out to others.  The more people you reach, the more your voice counts!

 

A Giant Thanks to you for helping the Canadian Toy Testing Council celebrate its 60th anniversary!

Toys! Canadian Toy Testing Council Fall Sale November 20

Shop for great bargains on toys November 20

From my friends at the Canadian Toy Testing Council:

TOY SALE!
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

The Canadian Toy Testing Council is holding its annual fall Toy Sale on Sunday, November 20, 2011, from 12 pm to 3 pm at the Queensway Carleton Hospital, Innovation Room, 3045 Baseline Road.
Entrance just beside Emergency at Tim Hortons.

Toys for children ranging from 0 months to 16 years. Up to 50% off, plus a chance to purchase this year’s award-winning toys. 

Free parking located at the Irving Greenberg Family Cancer Centre.

CASH & CARRY – CASH, VISA & MASTERCARD ONLY (NO INTERAC).

You are responsible to transport all toys purchased.

PLEASE DO NOT BRING CHILDREN. You can surprise them later!

Canadian Toy Testing Council announces 2012 award-winning toys

On November 8, 2011, the Canadian Toy Testing Council announced its 2012 Children's Choice and Best Bet award-winning toys. These award winners are selected from the best of the top-rated three-star toys that the Council has tested. Each toy is evaluated in a home environment by volunteer families -- kids -- and they know what they like!

The CTTC is a non-profit, charitable organization. Make a donation today to keep the toy program running. You can visit the website at http://www.toy-testing.org/ or send directly via PayPal to: toyappeal@gmail.com.

Children's Choice (presented by age):

• Play ’n Scoot Pirate Ship, Little Tikes, 1.5-3 years
• Dr. Seuss – What’s in the Cat’s Hat, I Can Do That! Games, 3+ years
• Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel, Educational Insights, 3+ years
• LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet, LeapFrog, 4-9 years
• Saila, Maplelea Girl & accessories, Avonlea Traditions, 6+ years
• Jewelry Boutique, Crayola, 6+ years
• Glow Book, Crayola, 6+ years
• Snap Circuits Jr., Elenco Electronics, 8+ years
• Nerf DART TAG Swarmfire, Hasbro, 8+ years
• Mythbusters Hit the Target! Trivia Game, ZimZala Games, 10+ years

Best Bet (presented by age):

• Northern Lights Soother, Lamaze, 0+ years
• Little People Zoo Talkers Animal Sounds Zoo, Fisher-Price, 18 months – 5 years
• Wheelies Play ’n Go Construction Site (Little People), Fisher-Price, 1.5–3.5 years
• Count & Scan Shopper, LeapFrog, 2+ years
• Remote Racer Smart Car, VTech, 2-5 years
• Chuggington Double Decker Roundhouse plus two trains, Learning Curve, 3+ years
• Chuggington Over & Under Starter Set (with Clock Tower), Learning Curve, 3+ years
• Richard Scarry’s Busytown Busy, Busy Airport, I Can Do That! Games, 4+ years
• KidiZoom Camera, VTech, 3-8 years
• Brilliant Creations Genius Junior, VTech, 4-7 years
• Leapster Explorer, LeapFrog, 4–9 years
• Littlest Pet Shop Magic Motion Tree House, Hasbro Canada, 4+ years
• Buck, Buck, Moose! Educational Insights, 4+ years
• uKloo Early Reader Treasure Hunt Game, uKloo Kids Inc., 4+ years
• Perplexus Rookie, Perplexus, LLC (PlaSmart Inc), 5+ years
• Galapa Go! MJgames, 5+ years
• Golden Gate, Blue Orange Games, 7+ years 
• Rock Fashion Studio, SmartLab, 7+ years
• Interior Design Light Box Studio Set, Fashion Angels, 8+ years
• Totally Gross! The Game of Science, University Games, 8+ years
• Alien Mothership, Lego, 8-14 years
• Star Wars Bounty Hunter Assault Gunship, Lego, 8–14 years
• Sketch It! Blue Orange Games, 9+ years
• Perplexus Epic, Busy Life LLC, 10+ years
• PathWords, ThinkFun, 12+ years

Now go and play!